Controlled deflection roll

Abstract

A controlled deflection roll having a fixed support and a roll shell rotatable thereabout and supported upon hydraulic pressure elements delimiting a number of pressure compartments at the fixed support. A longitudinal bore extends lengthwise of the fixed support and connection bores lead therefrom to the individual pressure compartments. Pressure regulators coact with the pressure elements for setting the pressure of an hydraulic pressurized fluid medium which is infed to the individual pressure compartments. The housings of the pressure regulators and the actuation elements thereof are insertably arranged in the longitudinal bore of the fixed support and connected with a pressurized fluid medium line for the infeed of the pressurized fluid medium. Each housing has an outlet bore, the mouth of which is surrounded by a sealing region and is connectable with the connection bore of the related pressure compartment. The housing is provided with an hydraulic piston or plunger at a location opposite the sealing region, which piston sealingly closes an hydraulic pressure compartment or chamber and serves to press the sealing region of the outlet bore against the wall of the longitudinal bore of the fixed support. The hydraulic pressure chamber likewise is connected with the pressurized fluid medium line.

Accordingly, what I claim is: 
     
       1. A controlled deflection roll comprising, in combination: a fixed support;   a roll shell;   means for mounting said roll shell to be rotatable about said fixed support;   hydraulic pressure elements at which there is supported said rotatable roll shell;   said fixed support being provided with a number of pressure compartments;   each pressure compartment being bounded by a related one of the pressure elements;   means for infeeding a hydraulic pressure medium to said pressure compartments for pressing the pressure elements against an inner surface of the roll shell and supporting said roll shell at said fixed support;   said means for infeeding the pressure medium comprising a longitudinal bore provided at the fixed support and extending in the lengthwise direction of said fixed support;   connection bores leading from said longitudinal bore to the individual pressure compartments;   a plurality of pressure regulators for setting the pressure of the hydraulic pressure medium which is infed to the individual pressure compartments;   said pressure regulators being arranged in said fixed support and operatively associated with said pressure elements;   each of said pressure regulators having a housing and actuation means insertably arranged in said longitudinal bore of said fixed support;   a pressure medium infeed line for the infeed of the pressure medium with which there are connected each of said pressure regulators;   each of said housings having an outlet bore including a mouth portion;   means defining a sealing region surrounding the mouth portion of the related outlet bore;   each mouth portion being connected with the outlet bore of the related pressure compartment;   an hydraulic piston provided for said housing at a location opposite said sealing region;   said hydraulic piston sealingly closing an hydraulic pressure chamber and serving for pressing the sealing region of the outlet bore against a wall of said longitudinal bore of said fixed support; and   said hydraulic pressure chamber being connected with said pressure medium infeed line.   
     
     
       2. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, further including: a spring-loaded element operatively associated with said sealing region;   spring means for loading said element;   said spring-loaded element serving for lifting-off the sealing region from the wall of the longitudinal bore.   
     
     
       3. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, further including: at least one additional housing operatively associated with said housing provided with a related one of said pressure regulators;   said additional housing being essentially of the same construction as said housing of said related pressure regulator;   said additional housing being devoid of a pressure regulator and actuation means;   said additional housing having an outlet bore;   a connection line for connecting said outlet bore of said additional housing with said outlet bore of said housing provided with said related pressure regulator.   
     
     
       4. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 3, further including: means for interconnecting and retaining in mutually spaced relationship said housings with respect to one another;   the spacing of said housings corresponding to the spacing of said connection bores.   
     
     
       5. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 4, wherein: said interconnecting means comprises at least one non-rotatable element having a spacer action between the housings.   
     
     
       6. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 5, wherein: said non-rotatable element comprises a tube simultaneously forming said pressure medium infeed line for the infeed of said pressure medium.   
     
     
       7. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 6, further including: an additional tube arranged essentially parallel to said first-mentioned tube for the infeed of the pressure medium;   said additional tube being equipped with control lines for the individual actuation means of the pressure regulators.   
     
     
       8. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: said fixed support and said roll shell coact with one another so as to form an intermediate compartment;   at least one transverse bore for connecting said longitudinal bore of said fixed support with said intermediate compartment;   outflow line means for the hydraulic pressure medium;   at least one scoop means for removal of the hydraulic pressure medium from the intermediate compartment between the roll shell and said fixed support and for transfer to said outflow line means.   
     
     
       9. The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 8, wherein: said roll shell has opposed ends;   a closure element for sealing the longitudinal bore at the region of one of the ends of said roll shell externally of an outermost one of said pressure regulators;   said longitudinal bore having a portion located externally of said closure element;   said portion of said longitudinal bore being connected with said scoop device.